Luther College News

Luther College will celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage and contributions in April with a series of lectures, as well as performances and a fashion show put on by Luther students. The college will host a residency for a Chinese musician, calligrapher and martial artist. While May is widely recognized as the national AAPI month, Luther will celebrate in April. 

Luther College’s Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (The CEPE) will celebrate the 25th anniversary of David Lynch’s “The Straight Story,” with a free screening and discussion with one of the film’s stars in early April. The film is based on the true story of Alvin Straight of Laurens, Iowa, who rode his lawn mower tractor across the state and part of Wisconsin to reunite with his estranged brother. 

Patti (Schroeder) Hetrick, class of 1984, from Minneapolis was named the vice president for finance and administration at Luther College, President Jenifer K. Ward announced this week. The native of nearby Caledonia, Minn., and graduate of Luther brings a wide range of governmental, public sector and corporate experience managing large and complex operational infrastructures.

Grace Lawrence, a senior at Luther College, is majoring in social work because she wants to help vulnerable populations. She’s spending her last semester in Washington, D.C., learning more about the social work field through an internship.

This video gives a look at how Luther students are taking advantage of experiences in the Decorah community beyond the classroom. In this video, three students – Karson Trujillo, Harrison Blum and Blake Henriquez — discuss their experiences interning with Decorah-area companies WinnMed, Deco Products and Decorah Bank and Trust.

Cruzvergara is recognized as an agent of change and an expert on strategies that create equitable student career success outcomes.

Sheri Brenden ’81, author of “Break Point: Two Minnesota Athletes and the Road to Title IX,” will speak along with her sister, Peg Brenden ’76.

Luther College raised more than $1.2 million during the ninth annual Giving Day on March 7. The money raised on Thursday will support and enhance the Luther experience at the college through the Luther Fund, Luther’s unrestricted current fund that supports all students, faculty, staff and community endeavors on campus. 

Lydia X. Z. Brown, director of public policy at the National Disability Institute, will give the Price Distinguished Lecture in Women’s Leadership at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall. The event is co-sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio. 

Dr. Michael Osterholm, class of 1975, was presented with the Outstanding Government Service Award from the American Medical Association in February. Osterholm, who serves on Luther College Board of Regents, is a world-renowned epidemiologist and the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota.